Zika, dengue and other tropical mosquito carried diseases are in the news more and more. However, that is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak. If you think insect problems are getting worse, you may be right, but some insects have been giving us trouble for a long time. Insect populations come and go in cycles. These depend on many factors including temperature, moisture, food supply and predators of the insects. Here in Hawaii, our climate seems to be getting warmer every year with record highs constantly being broken.
Several examples of these cycles may be observed in your garden. With warmer weather, you will see some increase in plant sucking insects such as aphids. You can actually increase the aphid population by applying excessive amounts of nitrogen so that the plants grow lush and tender. If you fertilize with a balanced, slow release fertilizer, you are less likely to have a population explosion of aphids.
A common problem now is the hibiscus blister mite, alias hibiscus
Erineum mite or hibiscus leaf crumpling mite. Since we have such a big supply of hibiscus in Hawaii, it is natural that something would come along to feed on the plants. Interestingly, where the mite first began doing damage, natural predators such as Phytoseiid mites are causing a decrease in the blister mite population. Thus, nature helps use by bringing things into balance. Often, by spraying to kill the “bad guys,” we kill the “good guys.” Actually, in nature, we shouldn’t label things as bad and good. They just are part of the fabric of life and it is only when things get out of balance that we tend to place these labels on the particular life form. When these life forms affect us in a negative way, then they are bad guys. We don’t even notice the good guys.
From the beginning, man has been prey to the lusts and appetites of hordes of insects. Very early in history, humans devised methods of combating these pests that “bugged” them. More often than not, manual dexterity in the form of slapping and picking was the prime instrument of insect control. In the course of development, humans learned that some substances applied to the body discouraged insect aggression. Applying a grease coating to the skin was one method. Another was to never take a bath! This originated the idea of repellents. If you are planning on camping or hiking trips, the use of an insect repellent is a must, so let’s learn something about them.
Early repellents consisted largely of plants or plant products, though animal products were also employed. The earliest truly chemical repellent in widespread use was Bordeaux mixture for plant diseases. Pliny recommended a mixture of red Earth and tar to repel ants. It is also known that the Greeks and Romans painted the backs of parchment manuscripts with cedar wood oil to prevent injury by insects. Parts of the Neem Tree have been used for thousands of years in India as insect repellents, but also have fungicidal and bactericidal properties. It was not until after the end of the 19th century that repellents were marketed in the Western World.
More than 9,000 chemicals have been tested as repellents for mosquitoes and other biting flies, chiggers, fleas and ticks, but only a few have proven effective and also safe for general application to the skin or clothing. Some of the effective materials have little or no odor and give almost complete protection for two to eight hours as skin applied repellents and for several days for repellents applied to clothing even in areas where insect populations are high.
Toxicologists have conducted extensive tests with “off the shelf” repellents and have found them safe for use as skin applications. They can be toxic if taken internally. Occasionally, there are people who are allergic to certain of the materials that have passed toxicological tests. Such persons may show a slight rash or other minor skin reactions. Any of the repellents may cause some smarting when applied to the mucous membranes or to areas where the skin is especially tender, such as the eyelids.
These repellents may affect paints, varnishes, and many of the plastics to varying degrees. They must be used with caution, as they will damage some types of synthetic cloth, fingernail polish, articles that are painted or varnished or made of plastic, especially watch crystals. They will not damage cotton or wool cloth if it contains no synthetic fibers.
A repellent must be uniformly distributed over the area to be protected, for the insects will discover and bite in any small area that is not covered. The most common method of using a repellent is to shake a few drops from the bottle or spray from the pressurized can into the palms, smear evenly, and then apply thoroughly the backs of the hands, wrists, neck, ears, face, or other exposed skin, much as in washing. Sufficient repellent should be applied to give a uniform film. Most of these repellents feel oily to the skin and may be objectionable to some individuals. However, the protection they afford from biting insects more than compensates for this oiliness. Under favorable conditions, one treatment will last several hours on most people. Clothing properly treated with any of the repellents will give protection for several days. With all the mosquito and tick born diseases like Zika, chikungunya, dengue, and tick fever, it is important to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Gardening is fun, but if bugs are bugging you or your plants, repellents are the first line of defense.